Anthony Joshua Receives Stunning World Title Offer Just Days After Jake Paul Win
Anthony Joshua has been offered a world title fight just days after his big win over Jake Paul.
Joshua made a triumphant return to the ring as he stopped Paul in the sixth round of their professional heavyweight contest in Miami on Friday.
He landed a huge right-hand that floored Paul, who failed to beat the count, with the referee waving off the contest.
It was the Brit's first appearance since his crushing knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois for the IBF world heavyweight title at Wembley Stadium last year.
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Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn is plotting Joshua's next moves, with a fight against a shock opponent mooted in February or March of next year.
A fight in the first quarter of 2026 would serve as a tune-up before potentially getting in the ring against old rival Tyson Fury, who is set to return to the sport next year.
But Frank Warren has offered Joshua the chance to face WBO world heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley next.
Wardley won the interim WBO world heavyweight title against Joseph Parker in October but was elevated to full champion after Oleksandr Usyk relinquished the belt.
On what's next for 'AJ', Warren told The Stomping Ground: "Let me tell you what it is. What he doesn't need to do, AJ, is fight anybody who can punch because there won't be a fight with Tyson."
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The Queensberry chief, who also promotes Fury, then name-dropped Moses Itauma and Wardley before claiming he'd do a deal for Wardley vs. Joshua on Christmas.
"He really wants to fight... fight Moses. Fight Moses now. Fight Fabio Wardley now," he added.
"You want to win a world title back? Fight Fabio Wardley. Do it tomorrow. Sign it tomorrow."
Asked if he'd be willing to match the WBO world champion against Joshua, Warren replied: "If he says yes, I'll go around his house on Christmas day. I'll go around there and we [can] get the deal done. Of course, I'd do it.
"Why wouldn't you do it? There's a world title fight. You want to fight for the world title, fight Fabio Wardley.
"In the meantime, if you're not, then you want to wait for, you know, which is a big money fight. And I get it and understand it. That's the business we're in. You want to wait for Tyson, wait for Tyson."
Wardley hasn't got an opponent lined up, but he is set to defend his WBO belt in the first half of 2026.
Derek Chisora has been touted as a potential opponent, though it appears Warren is angling for Joshua in what would be a huge all-British world title clash.
Topics: Anthony Joshua, Boxing, Jake Paul
Nasir Jabbar